D&D 5E Arguing, ideating and solution-seeking on the D&D Enworld forum

[DarkMantle]

That said, I too get frustrated with the ease in which online conversation descends into argument. I feel much better, though, when I look at the Facebook comments of my local newspaper. Compared to that, we're paragons of reason.

For some reason, I found reddit to be quite reasonable in the tone of discussion. Lots of ideation and solutions. Perhaps the reddit format does not lend itself to arguing?

Or , actually, quite probably, I'm not looking at the parts of reddit where people argue.

 

[FrogReaver]

Arguments, in general, aren't terribly constructive. I don't see a lot of difference between arguing definitions, or ideas - they are still arguments.

Discussion is not the same as argument. It tends to generate more useful material, but folks have to walk into them without the need to have the "winning idea".

This sounds like a very semantic argument.

 

[DarkMantle]

What the heck is "Ideation"? That's a new one to me. I can understand in context, but, is this some new word I just haven't seen before?

Ideation is my favorite! I use it in marketing a lot.

 

[DarkMantle]

The problem with both "Creative solutions" and "Ideation/brainstorming" is typically the thread starters, in my experience.

What usually happens is someone has some kind of ideas, and they want solutions or brainstorming.

Except actually they don't.

Trying to infer someone's state of mind, and then acting upon that inference (instead of validating it) is, in my personal experience, one of primary reasons that discussions (at least in my life) have descended into unproductive arguments.

I believe this is because the person making the critique is operating out of their own mental map, with all of its assumptions, confirmation bias, etc. and less validation of their mental map to make sure they have it as accurate and useful as possible when communicating with others.

 

[NotAYakk]

"Arguing over Polls with too many rules" is missing.

 

[payn]

The first 8-10 pages are usually the best discussion. After that, it tends to be the absolutist warriors going back and forth. I think the discussion is pretty good here and always look forward to a new day. The only time it bothers me is when folks get personal. The mods do a great job of shutting that down.

 

[Umbran]

This sounds like a very semantic argument.

If that's what you are looking for, everything sounds like a semantic argument. You get out of it what you put into it, after all.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I can't imagine the results will be other than "less of the stuff we don't like and more of the stuff we do like". That would apply to pretty much any poll, whatever the topic.

Which best describes your financial situation:

• I'd like more money
• I have the right amount of money
• I'd like less money

That said, I too get frustrated with the ease in which online conversation descends into argument. I feel much better, though, when I look at the Facebook comments of my local newspaper. Compared to that, we're paragons of reason.

Oddly, “I have too much money” is not the same answer as “I’d like less money.”

 

[Minigiant]

Humans tend to that. And the state of the world at large isn't helping.

Yeah. It's the time where you have more time to think and ponder about new ideas but nobody feels like it. So it's very comfortable for people to state their preferences and not engage in conversation of new things.

 

[FrogReaver]

If that's what you are looking for, everything sounds like a semantic argument. You get out of it what you put into it, after all.

Essential Meaning of argument
1: a statement or series of statements for or against something
\\They made a compelling/convincing/persuasive/strong argument for our participation.
\\The committee presented strong arguments against building a new school.See More Examples

2: a discussion in which people express different opinions about something
\\Let us accept, for the sake of argument, that she is right.
\\Don't you want to hear both sides of the argument?

3: an angry disagreement : QUARREL
\\They were always getting into arguments about/over politics.
\\There were many arguments about/over the new design.

Oftentimes what is meant by someone using the word 'argument' is the same as what you mean by discussion. See definition 2.